Fluid-applying machine



Patented Nov. 2, 1937 STATES PATENTY FLUID-APPLYING MACHINE Application December 16, 1935 Serial No. 54,607

In Great Britain December 28, 21934 1o claims.

The present invention is concerned with improvements in coating-applying machines. The expression coating-applying machine, as used herein, is 'intended to be interpreted broadly as including any apparatus or device appropriated to the delivery of a coating-liquid, either one of a readily fluent'nature or one which is more viscous, to a Workiece. It is to be understood that 'features of the invention may nd applicability in power-driven apparatus or in nondriven apparatus. The invention Will be described. herein by Way of illustration With particular reference to a machine organized for applying inlr or stain to the edges of the breastcovering naps of shoe-heels.

lt is sometimes dmired that the edges of heelbreast-aps shall project slightly beyond the side faces of the heels, and that the edges shall be rounded or otherwise shaped after they have f. been trimmed, they being known in the trade as Viennese edges. After trimming, the edges of the flap at either side of the heel may be nished on a machine having an oscillating tool with a flap-edge-engaging groove of the desired shape. In producing Viennese edges in the manner mentioned, it is customary to apply ink or stain to the edges of the iiap left bythe trimming operation to give them the desired color. Hitherto, this has commonly been performed by manual application of the coloring fluid by an ope tor with a brush or the like, and as it is usually required that the application shall be limited to the flap-edges alone, it will be recognized that the operation has been one calling for considerable care and skill on the part of the operator and, in consequence, has been a timeconsuming one.

it is one of the various objects of the present invention to provide a coating-applying machine particularly adapted for performing the operation of applying a coloring fluid to Viennese edges of the breast-flaps of heels, whereby the operation may be carried out with precision and much more rapidly than when performed manually.

By Way of example, there is hereinafter described in detail an illustrative coating-applying machine in accordance With the invention, in which machine the several features of the invention are embodied in convenient forms. This illustrative machine comprises, as a feature of the invention, a container or reservoir in Which a supply of ink, stain or other coating material is received, a coating-appling tool or device, a tube having a passage for elivering the coating uid from the container to the tool and a valve for controlling flow of the fluid to the tool. The applying tool preferably comprises an applying roll to the periphery ci which the fluid is delivered and in Which is a groove .to adapt it to apply the fluid tothe angled surfaces formed at the edges of a iiap by the trimming operation. The roll is shown as .rotatably mounted in a slot in a carrying member, an inclined projecting end part of which member, adjacent to the grooved'applying roll, furnishes a surface at the applying locality adapted to serve to guide the margin of the breast-surface of the ap into a Ypositionwhere the edge thereof will enter the groove of the applying roll during the applying operation. Further, the `nfiachine includes a valve forcontrolling flow of the fluid through the tube from the container to the tool. Y

With different kinds of Work which may be met With in a shoe-factory, it may be desired to apply coating-fluids of different colors or other characteristics to flap-edges on different shoes. Itfwill be realized that it would/be a timeconsuming matter if, when the change of coating-.fluid being employed was to be made, the operator had to drain the fluid from the machine and replace "itfby another iuid. To avoid such disadvantage in the illustrative machine, there is disclosed another feature of the invention, in accordance with which the fluid-container, the coating-applying. tool and the tube for` delivering coating-fluid from the container to the tool are constructed as a unit. A plurality of such units may be provided and when it is desired tochange from one coating-fluid-to another, the unit containing the coating-fluid that has previously been used may be detached readily from supporting means therefor on the machine and replaced by-a unit containing the different coating-uid that is desired to use. The machine has also means voperative to effect actuation of the valve of--whicheverunit is in operative position. Y 9 Y Inks Vor stains designed for application to shoe-part-edges on WhichV a setting operation is subsequently to be performed, commonly include a certain amount of material of a waxyY nature in their composition, as this ishelpful in securing the desired Well-finished appearance after setting. Such wax-containing fluids are consequently of `a somewhat viscous nature, and, when used in the illustrative machine here,- inafter described, We have found that they are liable .to clog or `choke the passages or apertures through which they flow, unless precautions are taken to the contrary. As a further feature of the invention we communicate an oscillatory or vibratory movement to the fluid-container of the machine, the tube leading therefrom and the applying device. By this means the iiuid is so agitated that little or no clogging will be experienced.

The various objects and features of the invention will be made clear by the following detailed description, given with reference to the accompanying drawing, of the illustrative machine.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the illustrative machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View, chiefly in section in a plane at right-angles to Fig. 1, of thecoatingapplying parts and supply-reservoir;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in side ele-- vation of a coating-applying tool of Vthe machine, this gure also showing a Work-piece being operated upon;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectionybut on a larger scale, through the clamp for a removable tool and reservoir unit, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the tool-oscillating mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

The machine comprises a tubular memberV I, which extends substantially vertically, and carries at its upper end a container or reservoir |03 for the iiuid coating-material andV atV 'the lower end a coating-applying tool-|05. Y The tubular member |0I is embraced by a yoke |01V formed at one end of a horizontal rod or spindle |08; a clamping screw holding the member |0| securely in the yoke. such that on loosening the screw the member and the parts carried thereby can readily be removed as a unit from the yoke. A collar H9 surrounds the member IBI and is held in fixed position thereon by a set-screw I I2. As seen in Fig. 2, when the member |0| is in proper position in the yoke |01, the collar I|0 engages the upper surface of the yoke. The machine is conveniently provided with a number of units comprising a tubular member |0|, a reservoir |03 and an applying tool I 05, the different units serving to supply fluid coating-materials of different kinds or colors. The arrangement described is such that on loosening the screw III, any one unit can be removed from the yoke |01- and anotherof the units substituted for it, each being readily positioned heightwise when placed in the yoke by the engagement ofV the collar ll'with theV upper surface of the yoke. It Will be appreciated from the description which hereinafter-follows,

that a unit should be properly located vertically Y in order that means for causing delivery ofthe coating material fromV the unit may co-operate suitably with said unit. The machine is conveniently provided with a bracket (not shown) upon which units notactually in use may be supported, with their tubular members |0|,ver e tical and with the tools |05 dipping into a bath of water. This will'tend to reduce any tendency of the applying tools to clogwhen not in use.

The rod |89 is housed in a sleeve 3 projectcasing-I l5 supported on interior of which casing WithinY the casing is a pedestal H3, into `the the rod |59 projects.

mechanism M for imparting a rapid oscillatoryV movement of very small amplitude Vto theV rod.

For example, this mechanism may be of the same nature, as that disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,982,740, Keall et al., Decem- The arrangementis a drive shaft 254 on which is mounted a pulley v 256 to which power may be supplied from a suitable source.v As the drive shaft is rotated, this wobble shaft 252 imparts a movement to the swivel member 248 which may be resolved into two components. The rst component, in a horizontal plane, imparts an oscillatory movement to the swivel member 248 which has no effect on the rod |09. The other component, in a Vertical plane, acting through the swivel member 248, the block 244 and the rod |09, imparts an oscillatory movement to the latter and to the tool |05 carried thereon. The amplitude of the oscillatory movement of the rod is preferably so small that theY tool |05 does not move to and fro during the` oscillation through more than about 15 of an inch.

The reservoir |03 may be in the form of a cylindrical glass vessel closed at the top and at the bottom by plates H9, |2I, respectively. Both plates are centrally bored to receive a portion |23 of reduced diameter of the member |0I. This portion |23 extendsraxially through the reservoir and is threaded at its upper end to receive a nut I 25. The lower plate |2| rests. upon a step |21 on ment is such that on tightening the nut |25 the parts of the reservoir are clamped firmly together. Two apertures I8 (Fig. 2) are provided in the upper plate ||9 through one of which liquid may be introduced as required into the reservoir. Y

At its lower end, the tubular member has Yan extension-piece |39 of reduced diameter threaded thereon. The applying tool l 55 comprises a metal roll |28 of smallthickness, of which all except its extreme lower portion is received in a slot |39 in a lower solid Vend of a'sleeve member 33 surrounding the extension of the tubular member |0I. The roll |28 is rotatable Yabout a pin |32 which extends across the'slot. The am's of the roll is substantially horizontal. As best seen in Fig. 3, the edge-surface of the roll is V-grooved. The sleeve member |53 is so formed that the general plane of its lower surface makes an angle of about 39 with the vertical axis of the tubular member |0| and is Vcurved transversely, the downwardly projecting end'providing a surface |34, which is adaptedrto aid in positioning a workpiece being presented to the roll |28. The upper portion of the sleeve member |33 is received upon I the Yextension-piece |39, and to maintain the sleeve member securely in place, it has two ears |376 extending laterally therefrom and receiving between them the lower end of a rod |38. At its upper end, this rod is rigidly secured to a split collar I 40 clamped on to the member l0! by a screw |42. The lower end-portion of the rod |38 has a hole formed therethrough and a threaded pin |44 passes through registering holes in the ears |36 and through the hole in the rod,'the hole in one of the ears being screwthreaded so that the pin is maintained in place. The pin, howevenis readily removable should it be desired to take off the tool |05 for cleaning or' the member 0| and thearrange-V chine may be called Yupon to operate upon work of diierent thicknesses, it may be convenient to provide a number of replaceable tools |95 which have rolls |28 of different thicknesses.

The means for controlling the supply of coating-material from the reservoir to the tool will now be described. Slidably received in the axial bore of the member lill is a valve-rod |5l. The member has near the bottom of the reservoir, apertures |59 through which liquid from `the reservoir may pass into the central Ypassageway in the member. Liquid so leaving the reservoir may ilow down the passageway, since the latter below this point is at all places of somewhat larger diameter than the valve-rod |5l7 which is received in it. The lower portion of the valve-rod is received in a bore in the upper portion of the extension-piece |39. Normally, when it is not desired that liquid should be delivered to the tool IE5, the extreme lower end of the rod, which is provided with a conical surface |63, bears against a conical seat in the extension-piece and thus prevents discharge therefrom. But, when Vthe valve-rod is raised, liquid can flow past the lower end into a constricted passage 69 in the lower portion of the extension-piece. Liquid passing through the passageway is received in the interior of the sleeve member |33. An aperture H3 is provided in the lower portion of the sleeve member through which the liquid nally passes, to drip upon the upper 'portion of the roll |28.

For controlling the position of the valve-rod |5`|, the following arrangement is provided. Extending laterally from the reservoir-plate HS is an arm le, and extending upwardly from this arm is a short pillar |48. i The pillar is bifurcated at its upper end, and pivoted to it between the bifurcations is one end of a lever |52, the other extremity of which is pivoted to a bifurcat-ed head |52 formed at the upper end of the valverod l5?. The connection between the lever l@ and the head |52 comprises a removable pin, which may be taken out if it is desired to remove the valve-rod |51 for cleaning. A tension-spring |5l, connected at its upper end to the lever |59 and at its lower end to a pin |56 on the split collar ll, normally serves to urge the valve-rod downwardly and so, by maintaining the conical surface |53 against its seat, prevent delivery of coating liquid from the reservoir |83 to the applying tool |85.

Extending upwardly from the yoke lill is a pillar |58, which is bifurcated at its upper end and has pivoted to it at |69, between the bifurcations, a lever |62. The lever in front of the pivot has formed on it a step |64, which underlies and is in contact or almost in contact with a step on the head |52 of the valve-rod. The lever also extends rearwardly from its pivot and is loosely joined by a pin |66 to an eye at the upper end of a rod |58 connected at its lower end to a treadle, not shown. The distance between the pin |56 and the pivot |63 is several times that between the pivot and the head |52, so that a. small upward movement is communicated to the end of the lever adjacent the head by a considerably larger downward movement of theend of the lever at the pin. The treadle-rod |68 passes through alined apertures in two fixed brackets il@ and |12. Surrounding the rod |68 between the upper surface of the bracket |76 and a collar |ll xed to the rod is a compression-spring H5, which normally serves to urge the rod upwardly into a position in which another fixed collar |'i'8 on the rod engages the lower surface of the bracket |10. The extent to which the rodV |58 may be moved downwardlypand thus the extent to which the valve-rod |5l may be lifted ofi its seat, is determined by the engagement of yet another collar |80 fixed to the rod, with the upper end of a tubular screw'l82 threaded into the bracket |12 and through which screw the rod passes. The extent to which the rod |53 may be moved downwardly upon depression of the treadle may be adjusted by turning the screw. The eollar HQ so determines the heightwise position of the unit comprising the member lli l the reservoir |93, the tool |95 and associated parts in the yoke lill, that the step on the head |52 of any applied unit will be located in the correct relation to the step |66 on the lever |52.

In the use of the machineto apply an ink or stain to a Viennese edge projecting from a flap F on an attached heel H, after the side edges of the flap have been trimmed to form an angular^ edge, the work is presented to the tool H35 in the manner indicated in Fig. 3. The angled surfaces of the flap-edge bear against the sides of fgroove in the periphery of the roll |23. The inclined end surface i3d wili contact with the front marginal face of the fiap and will assist in bringing the work into proper relation to the roll. As the operator thus applies the work tothe tool, he will simultaneously depress the treadle to raise the valve-rod l5? and allow liquid to flow to the roll through the passageway v|69 and aperture |73. The arrangement described permits the operator very accurately to control theamount of fluid supplied to the roll. The diameters of the passageway and the aperture are so small as to prevent a large excess of fluid over being delivered to the roll |28,1and the operator can at any time out off the supply by permitting the spring il to raise the treadle-rod. Once fluid is delivered to the roll, as the operator advances the work, said roll will be rotated by frictional contact and will be effective to apply the desired coatingto the flap-edge. One edge of the flap having been operatedupon, the ,shoe will be turned over and the edge at the other side of the flap colored in similar fashion. It has been found .that the apparatus described enables the coloring to be carried out with a rapidity and precision greatly in advance of what was possible when the operation was performed manually. From consideration .of Fig. 3, it will be appreciated that the inclined 'shape of the upper portion of the lower surface of the sleeve member |33 makes it unlikely that the covering at the side of the heel will at any time be brought into contact therewith and thus undesirably marked with the coating material. Should any coating material be accidentally applied to the marginal porti-on of the breast-surface'of the flap, this is not particularly disadvantageous,

since in any case it is probable that this sur- Y face of the flap will be subjected to a scouring operation, which, incidentally, will remove any of the coating therefrom.

As has hereinbefore been described, when the machine is in operation, the rod iii@ will be rapidly oscillated so that a vibratory motion is communicated to all the parts carried on the rod. The vibratory movement of the roll |25 is of such small amplitude that it does not interfere with, and may even assist, its applying function. On the other hand, the agitation which the Vibration imparts to the fluid in the apparatus greatly reduces any tendency which there may be towards choking or clogging, such as composition. Such inks or stains are liable to clog passages or apertures through which Vthey iow, unless precautions are taken to the contrary. It Vis not, however, regarded as Vby any means essential that the machine should be provided with oscillating mechanism. Certain inks or stains may be found to flow quite freely without any oscillatory motion being imparted. En such event, the reservoir, tool and associated parts may merely be supportedupon a stationary bracket and the oscillating mechanism omitted entirely from the machine with a consequent lowering `of the cost.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: Y

1. -A fluid-applying machine comprising a support, a tube carried thereby and provided at its delivery-end with a slot and with a constrcted passage leading into the slot at one extremity and having about the opposite extremity a valveseat, a valve movable through the tube and cooperating wiith the seat, and a peripheinallygrooved roll rotatable in the slot.

2. A fluid-applying machine comprising a support, a tube carried thereby, an applying tool separably mounted upon the delivery-end of the tube, a rod secured to the tube and Vextending into co-operation with the tool, and a remov- Y able pin engaging the tool and rod.

3. A fluid-applying device comprising a tube having its delivery-end inclined with respect to its axis and being provided with a slot, and an applying roll rotatable in the slot, the portion of the inclined end projecting beyond the slot being adapted to receive contact of the Work to guide it toward the roll as the work is brought into engagement with said tool.

4. A Vfluid-applying device comprising a tube supported in depending position and having its delivery-end inclined with respectY to its axis and being provided with a slot, and an applying roll rotatable in the slot, said rollV projectingV beyond the upwardly inclined surface at one side of the slot' and lying within the downwardly inclined surface at the opposite side of said slot.

5. A fluid-applying devicehaving a removable unit comprising a tube provided with an opening mounted upon the in its wall, a Huid-container surrounding one end of the tube and delivering through the opening therein, means engaging the tube for holding the container thereon, anV applying tool rotatably endV of the tube opposite the container, and a Valve-rod e tending through the container and tubeV and c trolling the iiow of liquid to the tool. Y

6. A luid-applying-mach ne comprising a spindle, a yoke at one end the eof, a tube separably clamped by the yoke, a fluid-container carried by the tube at one side of the yoke, and an applyingtocl mounted upon the tube at the opposite side of the yoke.

7. In a fluid-applying machine, a support, a spindle carried by the support, a yoke at one end of the spindle, a tube separably clamped by the yoke, a fluid-containercarried by the tube at one side ofthe yoke, an applying tool mounted upon the tube at the opposite side of the yoke, a valverod extending through the container and tube and controlling the delivery of iiuid to the tool, and an actuating member movable upon the support and acting on the valve-rod outside the container.

8. In a fluid-applying machine, a support, a spindle carried by the support, a yoke at one end of the spindle, a tube separably clamped by the yoke, a Huid-container carriedV by the tube at one side of the yoke,V an applying tool mounted upon the tube at the opposite side of the yoke, a valverod extending through the container and tube and controlling the delivery of luid'to the tool, a spring connecting the valve-rod and tube and serving normally to prevent delivery to the tool,

and a lever fulcrumed upon the support and act- Y ing upon the valve-rod to cause delivery.

9. In a fluid-applying machine, a support, a fluid-container, an applying device interconnected with said container to be supplied therefrom, said container and applying device being movable together-upon the support, and means for prov ducing oscillation of the container and the applying device. Y v

10. In' a huid-applyingV machine, a support, a spindle Ymovable in the support, a tube secured to the spindle, a fluid-container and applying device mounted upon the tube and connected thereby` for the passage of fluid from the container to the 'applying'devica and means for oscillating the spindle.

JOHN HENRY BROWN. THOMAS BAGGO'I'T CLARKE.V 

